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Basque Country Set for New IRONMAN Race in 2019

Vitoria-Gasteiz in Spain will play host to IRONMAN on July 14 - General race registration opens on September 24, 2018

We are pleased to announce the launch of a new race that will join the European IRONMAN® Series portfolio in 2019 - IRONMAN® Vitoria-Gasteiz in the Basque Country, Spain. The inaugural event will take place on Sunday, July 14, 2019 with race registration opening on Monday, September 24, 2018.

"We are delighted having Vitoria-Gasteiz as part of the IRONMAN portfolio and becoming one of the cities with the best triathlon and athletes in the world," said Gorka Urtaran, Vitoria Mayor. “Hosting an IRONMAN event is a great opportunity to broaden the international reputation of Vitoria-Gasteiz and we are very much looking forward to hosting both local and international athletes at our home.”

The new addition in the northern region of Spain joins a well-represented race offering throughout the country, with IRONMAN® 70.3® Barcelona, IRONMAN 70.3 Mallorca, IRONMAN 70.3 Marbella and IRONMAN 70.3 Lanzarote already in place, as well as IRONMAN Barcelona and Club La Santa IRONMAN Lanzarote, plus the EDP Rock ‘n’ Roll Madrid Marathon & ½ Marathon.

“I’m confident that Vitoria’s tradition in the sport of triathlon, coupled with the excellent work of the team on the ground, will make it a thoroughly-memorable race for all athletes competing,” said Eduardo Martinez, IRONMAN 70.3 Vitoria-Gasteiz Race Director. “It’s a dream come true to hold an IRONMAN triathlon in our region. It’s very positive for the race, for the city, for the Alavés sport, and the country.”

The Basque Country is known for its charming people and picturesque scenery, offering visitors astonishing natural landscapes, rich architecture and, above all, passionate and vibrant people. Athletes and spectators can also expect a warm welcome and enthusiastic support from the local residents of Vitoria-Gasteiz, all the way to the finish line at the very heart of the city.

“Spain has a renowned tradition for producing some of the sport’s greatest triathletes, and with new races such as Vitoria-Gasteiz, we will be creating an opportunity for even more people to take up the sport,” said Stefan Petschnig, Managing Director of IRONMAN in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. “We have sold out many events in Spain this year - two IRONMAN races, three IRONMAN 70.3 races as well as EDP Rock ‘n’ Roll Madrid Marathon & ½ Marathon. The growth in these these events is there so adding a race further up north will help us accommodate the demand to participate in IRONMAN in the future.”

Vitoria-Gasteiz is considered one of the greenest and most sustainable cities in Europe and its strong positive values will make athletes, relatives and friends fall in love with the city and its surroundings.

Athletes at IRONMAN Vitoria-Gasteiz will start their 3.8km swim in the tranquil waters of Ulibarri-Gamboa Lake, the biggest water reservoir in Euskadi. From that point, they will bike 180km through the most scenic towns of Álava region, surrounded by the Elguea Mountains. To finish, participants will tackle the 42.2km run course in Vitoria-Gasteiz’s old town, which will be packed full of passionate supporters cheering on the athletes as they look to complete the race.

The inaugural IRONMAN Vitoria-Gasteiz will offer 40 qualifying age-group slots for the 2019 IRONMAN World Championship in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii and will also be a pro race.